Library MTI April 2011

Universal Design & Accessibility Issues in the LibraryLibrary MTI April 2011Craig Spooner & Marla RollIntroductionsMarla Roll, MS, OTR/LDirector, Assistive Technology Resource Center (http://atrc.colostate.edu/)Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational TherapyCo-PI , ACCESS Project Access to Postsecondary Education through Universal Design for Learning (http://accessproject.colostate.edu/)Craig SpoonerUDL Coordinator, ACCESS and OPS Projects

AgendaWhat does UDL have to do with disability?What does UDL have to do with digital content?What do you need to know about disability?What can you do to help students with disabilities?

Disabilities: Mobility ImpairmentsBlindness/Visual ImpairmentsDeafness/Hearing Impairments

Learning DisabilitiesAttention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)Autism Spectrum DisorderTraumatic Brain Injury (TBI)Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Mental Illness2/3Disabilities in Higher EducationNationally, 11.3% of undergraduates report some type of disability1At Colorado State University28%11% report a disabilityNon-apparent disabilities are the largest proportion and growingEven among students who say they have a disability, few seek accommodations1National Center for Education Statistics, 2008; U.S. Government Accountability Office, 20092Schelly, Davies & Spooner, Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability (Feb. 2011)5Universal Design for LearningUniversal Design for Learning (UDL)is a set of principles and techniques for creating inclusive classroom instruction and accessible course materials.teachingtechnology6

Universal Design (UD)Build in accessibility from the startCurb cuts in city streetsRamps and automatic door openersTV closed captionsErgonomic kitchen utensilsEveryone benefits from a more flexible, user-friendly environmentFix the environment, not the individual7

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)Inclusive pedagogyUDL applies to both teaching and technology8UDL and Web AccessThe Web is not a barrier to people with disabilities, it is the solution However, for the Web to reach its full potential for people with disabilities, web developers must commit to designing with accessibility in mind. WebAIM9UDL & Digital content:PDF/ E- ReservesFormsDatabasesE-BooksOthers?

Equal access Legislation:Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities.Title II speaks to public universitiesRationale for services like RDS and ATRChttp://www.ada.gov/index.html

Revised Final ADA Regulation for Title II (Effective March 15th, 2011)Auxiliary Aids now speaks directly to electronic and info technologyBroadens how disability and major life activity is definedhttp://www.ada.gov/regs2010/ADAregs2010.htm#titleII_final_2010

Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973prohibits discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistanceIncludes colleges and universitieshttp://www.dol.gov/oasam/regs/statutes/sec504.htmLEGISLATION (CONT)Section 508 of the Rehab Actprimarily a procurement lawEnsures that electronic and information technology can interact with assistive technology - http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?fuseAction=AssistiveTechDevicesStandards Summary - http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?fuseAction=stdsSum

WCAG Web Content Accessibility Guidelinescriteria for web-based information developed by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the W3Chttp://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/wcag.phphttp://webaim.org/

Web Content Accessibility ChecklistUDL What is the connection to legislation?Legislation - speaks to individual accommodations but there are drawbacks:Processes are more time consuming and costly to retrofitOnly addresses needs of an individualAddresses access issues technically but not always functionally

UDL designing for all types of users has benefits:Building in access on the front end is more cost effectiveHas benefits for more people. E.g. computer labUDL can decrease the need for individual accommodations

14Resources:UDL and accessibility speak to types of disabilities: 2/3rds of CSUs students that identify have non-apparent disabilitiesDeaf & Hard of hearingVisual impairmentsMobility impairmentsLearning DisabilitiesADD/ ADHDAutism spectrumPsychological disabilitiesTraumatic brain injuriesDisability awareness modules http://accessproject.colostate.edu/disability/

Other Resources to consider:

universal design of libraries checklisthttp://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/PDF/equal_access_lib.pdfEqual Access: Campus Libraries (video)(DO-IT Project, University of Washington)URL: http://www.washington.edu/doit/Video/index.php?vid=49

Question & Answer: Library Services - http://lib.colostate.edu/services

Recap:UDL and DisabilityUDL and Digital ContentDisability OverviewHow to work help students with disabilities

Contact info:Craig Spooner, MACraig.Spooner@colostate.edu970-491-0784

Marla Roll, MS, OTR/LMarla.Roll@colostate.edu970-491-2016